Craig Dahl spills Rams secrets of knowing 49ers' game plan

SANTA CLARA -- The St. Louis Rams' secrets of success against the 49ers last season has been unveiled -- and corrected -- thanks to safety Craig Dahl, who left the Rams as a free agent and signed with the 49ers in March.

The Rams apparently knew the 49ers' offensive intentions while losing neither of their 2012 meetings, tying 24-24 at Candlestick Park on Nov. 11 before posting a 16-13 overtime win in St. Louis on Dec. 2.

"We had a few tips off film we were able to differentiate between run and pass early," Dahl said Wednesday between the 49ers' minicamp practices. "So that kind of gave us an added benefit on defense."

San Francisco 49ers Vernon Davis (85) is tackled after a long catch against St. Louis Rams Craig Dahl (43) in the first quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010. (Nhat V. Meyer/ Mercury News)

Those tips didn't strictly revolve around the 49ers' quarterback, not with Alex Smith sustaining a concussion in the first half of the Nov. 11 game and Colin Kaepernick taking over for the rest of the season.

"Different personnel and different alignment stuff really were the big keys as far as giveaways," Dahl said. "It's been addressed and corrected. They knew most of it before I even got here. We just reconfirmed it. It's ongoing self-study and self-scouting that got it cleared up, too."

Dahl, a sixth-year veteran, is competing with first-round draft pick Eric Reid and veteran C.J. Spillman to become the 49ers' starting free safety, a role vacated by Dashon Goldson when he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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After signing a three-year deal in March, Dahl was debriefed by both the 49ers offensive and defensive coaches on the Rams' tendencies. St. Louis finished third in the NFC West with a 7-8-1 record in Jeff Fisher's first season as coach.

Regarding how those tips on the 49ers were uncovered, Dahl added: "It was something that had been brought forth by the coaches, but more study by the players in game situations proved it to be true."

The 49ers, despite their inability to beat the Rams, went on to repeat as NFC West champions and reach the Super Bowl.

"I know in St. Louis, the mentality was we always looked up to the 49ers as the staple of the NFC West," Dahl said. "They had the target on their back and we were out their gunning for it. Everyone seemed to raise their level of play that week."